Archive for October 2011
Latest Results on CRC registration
October 31, 2011 | 
Author Figures released today (August 11) by the Environment Agency show just 1200 organisations have registered for the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme.
Original Government estimates thought around 5,000 firms would need to sign up for the scheme before September 30 this year.
However, as many of the big emitting organisations are owned by large multi-nationals this has been rounded down to 4000, or possibly 3000.
But that means around another 2000 business still need to sign up for the scheme, which is still proving a headache for business leaders.
Large businesses and public sector organisations have just 50 days left to register for the mandatory scheme and the Environment Agency is now expecting an increase in registrations as the remaining organisations rush to sign up before the September 30 deadline.
Head of climate change and sustainable development at the Environment Agency, Tony Grayling, said: “We would urge the remaining businesses to sign up now, and not leave registration to the last minute.
“Our dedicated CRC helpdesk is available to help businesses through the registrations process.”
Organisations affected by CRC can also contact the Environment Agency for more information on 08708 506 506 or at crchelp@environment-agency.gov.uk.
Indoor Solar Cells? A 500 Megawatt Proposal
Complete video at: fora.tv Howard Clearfield, CTO of G24 Innovations, discusses potential applications of dye-sensitized solar cells. Since these cells operate indoors, Clearfield explains using the technology with indoor devices that draw standby power, like televisions, would take over 500 megawatts of electricity off the grid. —– Finding economic ways to capture and convert energy from our largest renewable energy source, the sun, is becoming more urgent as the worlds supply of fossil fuels vanishes. Now, the development of a new generation of solar cells might lead the way toward a better future. Graetzel cells, named for Professor Michael Graetzel of the Ecole Polytechnique federale de Lausanne (EPFL) in Switzerland, are dye-sensitized solar cells that are thin, flexible, and come in many shapes and colors, allowing them to answer different functional needs. Inspired by plant photosynthesis, they use dyes to transform sunlight into electricity. – swissnex San Francisco Howard M. Clearfield is the Chief Technology Officer at G24 Innovations, Ltd., a personalized solar energy start-up company specializing in flexible dye sensitized solar cells (DSSC). His solar energy experience includes positions at OptiSolar, Inc. as Director of Product Development, and at The Dow Chemical Company, where he installed at 210 kW solar farm that has produced over 750 MW-hr of renewable energy. Prior to entering the solar energy field, Clearfield was Global Leader of Technical …
Different Ways To Make Money From Climate Change
Whether you are an environmental activist, an at home green enthusiast, or simply looking for making money opportunities, then an interesting new way to do so is through climate change. This controversial topic creates quite a stir, both for those that believe it is important and for those that believe it is a farce. Therefore, some clever business people have come up with some ways of how to make money from climate change.
There are various ways to capitalize on this opportunity, and those will be discussed here. Some require a small investment of money and time, and others require a little more of both. It is definitely possible to start out small and build up to bigger and better results later.
The many ways of going green are increasing daily. There is info galore, and there are so many ways that even the average person can participate in making the environment safer and cleaner. Some of these methods are using solar energy, recycling, saving energy by making small changes in the house, waste reduction, and using natural cleaning and beauty products. Donating outgrown or unused clothing is another way. This also helps poor people clothe themselves and their families.
When looking at how to make money from climate change, it is important to look at how large of an area you wish to focus on. This can be one of the above areas, or several or all of them. One of the ways to focus and advertise the info is to offer instructions on how to begin to live green. This website could also offer facts about global warming and climate change. Google AdSense is one way in which you could advertise and mobilize your site to start to generate traffic and profits. Starting a blog with a comments section can start the money making process also. A blog can also be added to an existing website to further push its potential.
Commission Junction is a good place to look for affiliate programs that promote and sell products geared to living a green lifestyle. This means that you will sell the products without actually needing to keep them in stock or deliver them. Full information and reviews of these products can be placed on your website also. This information of course will include the ways in which the green stuff will help improve and protect the environment.
It is also possible to sell the physical green products themselves as well. This would involve finding a wholesaler or joining a company where you buy supply and then sell it at a higher price for profit. These are just a few ideas to get started in how to make money from climate change.
Searching the internet will generate plenty of other ideas and how to get started with them; you can also find other ways and tools to get going with the above mentioned scenarios. Profiting from and learning how to make money from climate change is a good business move and one that helps the environment also.
Myth – More Energy is Used to Produce Recycled paper than produce virgin paper
Rationale for recycling
Industrialized paper making has an effect on the environment both upstream (where raw materials are acquired and processed) and downstream (waste-disposal impacts). Recycling paper reduces this impact.
Today, 90% of paper pulp is made of wood. Paper production accounts for about 35% of felled trees, and represents 1.2% of the world’s total economic output. Recycling one ton of newsprint saves about 1 ton of wood while recycling 1 ton of printing or copier paper saves slightly more than 2 tons of wood. This is because kraft pulping requires twice as much wood since it removes lignin to produce higher quality fibres than mechanical pulping processes. Relating tons of paper recycled to the number of trees not cut is meaningless, since tree size varies tremendously and is the major factor in how much paper can be made from how many trees. Trees raised specifically for pulp production account for 16% of world pulp production, old growth forests 9% and second- and third- and more generation forests account for the balance. Most pulp mill operators practice reforestation to ensure a continuing supply of trees. The Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) and the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certify paper made from trees harvested according to guidelines meant to ensure good forestry practices. It has been estimated that recycling half the world’s paper would avoid the harvesting of 20 million acres (81,000 km²) of forestland.
Energy
Energy consumption is reduced by recycling, although there is debate concerning the actual energy savings realized. The Energy Information Administration claims a 40% reduction in energy when paper is recycled versus paper made with unrecycled pulp. while the Bureau of International Recycling (BIR) claims a 64% reduction. Some calculations show that recycling one ton of newspaper saves about 4,000 kW·h (14 GJ) of electricity, although this may be too high (see comments below on unrecycled pulp). This is enough electricity to power a 3-bedroom European house for an entire year, or enough energy to heat and air-condition the average North American home for almost six months. Recycling paper to make pulp may actually consume more fossil fuels than making new pulp via the kraft process; however, since these mills generate all of their energy from burning waste wood (bark, roots) and byproduct lignin. Pulp mills producing new mechanical pulp use large amounts of energy; a very rough estimate of the electrical energy needed is 10 gigajoules per tonne of pulp (2500 kW·h per short ton), usually from hydroelectric generating plants. Recycling mills purchase most of their energy from local power companies, and since recycling mills tend to be in urban areas, it is likely that the electricity is generated by burning fossil fuels.
Landfill use
About 35% of municipal solid waste (before recycling) by weight is paper and paper products. Recycling 1 ton of newspaper eliminates 3 cubic meters of landfill. Incineration of waste paper is usually preferable to landfilling since useful energy is generated. Organic materials, including paper, decompose in landfills, albeit sometimes slowly, releasing methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Many larger landfills now collect this methane for use as a biogas fuel. In highly urbanized areas, such as the northeastern US and most of Europe, land suitable for landfills is scarce and must be used carefully. Fortunately, it is in such areas that collection of waste paper is also most efficient, as it creates more jobs for people and saves space in landfills.
Water and air pollution
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has found that recycling causes 35% less water pollution and 74% less air pollution than making virgin paper. Pulp mills can be sources of both air and water pollution, especially if they are producing bleached pulp. Modern mills produce considerably less pollution than those of a few decades ago. Recycling paper decreases the demand for virgin pulp and thus reduces the overall amount of air and water pollution associated with paper manufacture. Recycled pulp can be bleached with the same chemicals used to bleach virgin pulp, but hydrogen peroxide and sodium hydrosulfite are the most common bleaching agents. Recycled pulp, or paper made from it, is known as PCF (process chlorine free) if no chlorine-containing compounds were used in the recycling process. However, recycling mills may have polluting by-products, such as sludge.
Renewable Energy Sources Have Plenty To Offer Each Of Us
Man’s over dependence on fossil fuels has brought about disastrous consequences. Global warming and Climate Change have been directly attributed to the release of green house gases due to the use of coal, oil and gas. Non-renewable energy sources are not effective, and cost far more than they offer in benefits.
Renewable energy sources absolutely sustain life because they do not emit carbon-based warming and harmful substances into the atmosphere. Additionally, it helps the people live an economical life by not paying the monthly bills on home energy consumption anymore.
Do you want to know what are renewable energy sources and how you can use them to produce free electricity to run your home? The truth about global warming is that it is becoming a much more serious problem that is becoming very hard to deal with today. The main renewable energy sources are examined below.
Solar, wind, and water are renewable energy sources that are friendly to the environment. With awareness to the limits of our natural resources, practically everyone is considering renewable energy solutions.
Residential Solar Power
The residential solar power makes a difference to your family and the Earth where you live in. With the residential solar power at home, you will be able to cut-off some financial expenses.
Harnessing solar power may be extraordinarily affordable if the energy system is all homemade. The storage cells can be used to store the power made during daytime and this will be still in the position to run during night or at times of the blackout.
To successfully turn your home into a residential solar power you need to be situated to a place where there is plenty of sunlight. An open space area would be very feasible to generate more solar energy.
Residential Wind Energy
At present, wind energy is used in a few places to generate electricity, and the feasibility of more wide spread application of this use is being studied.
Wind may be used as a renewable energy source. The energy that can be generated out of the wind power generators is limitless. Unlike the typical energy source produced by private companies, wind energy provides a lifetime power that you need.
Bio Fuels
Bio-fuels are also a renewable energy sources. They have been around for a very long time however just lately, people are beginning to take notice. Liquid bio-fuel which is the one used in cars is a natural and renewable domestic fuel that can only be used for diesel engines.
This can be made from vegetable oils mostly soy and corn. In fact diesel engines were originally created to run on vegetable oil! The nice thing about bio-fuels is that they contains no petroleum, and they are nontoxic and biodegradable.
The fact that we have so many different types of renewable energy sources to choose from means we can use them to our benefit. Some people have already proven the use of renewable energy sources to be very effective that’s why this energy saving idea has been shared to many users nowadays.
Renewable Energy Introduction
This video was created by Bowdoin College students www.bowdoin.edu in cooperation with the Maine Energy Investment Corporation www.renewmaine.org.
UK failing to do environment justice
A landmark legal win could help green campaigners in their fight for environmental justice in UK courts.
Under the UN-ratified Aarhus Convention governments must ensure legal costs for those wanting to fight for environmental rights in the courtroom do not represent an ‘unreasonable risk’.
But the Aarhus Convention Compliance Committee ruled this week the UK is not giving people sufficient access to justice.
James Thornton, chief executive of Client Earth, a law firm focusing on environmental cases, said: “Today’s findings are game-changing for anyone fighting for their environmental rights.
“At the moment, the government and industries can ride roughshod over their environmental responsibilities, confident that the legal system’s failings will make challenges impossible.
“If the government’s word is to mean anything on the international stage, it must move effectively and decisively to remedy the gross unfairness of the UK legal system.
“For the first time citizens will be able to scrutinise and challenge environmental decisions from a fair position.”
The conventions do not cover those who have caused criminal damage or trespassed to highlight their cause.
Client Earth has called for a tribunal highlighting how the UK is out of step with the rest of Europe when it comes to giving citizens access to environmental justice.
Current cost rules in the UK mean claimants are often forced to cover their opponents’ legal fees together with their own and court costs.
A single-day hearing in the UK courts can cost more than £100,000 and few individuals or public interest groups have the resources to stand such a hefty bill.
Why Recycle?
Why Recycle?
We in the UK produced over 30.5 million tonnes of waste annually in the early part of this century, of which less than 20% was collected for recycling (source: defra.gov.uk). The figure today (2010) isn’t much better compared to some of our EU neighbours, some of which recycle well over 50% of their waste. Germany for example have 17 recycling bins, we have 3 or 4 if we are lucky!
There is still a great deal of waste which could be recycled that ends up in landfill sites which is harmful to the environment, the Zero Waste Scotland Plan aims to address this issue, it is estimated we only have 8-10 years of landfill left.
The Government intend to ban materials which can be recycled from going to landfill, also, all business, regardless of size, must have waste management records or face prosecution, and several other initiatives to help achieve their target of 5% to Landfill by 2025.
Did you know that:
- 1 recycled tin can would save enough energy to power a television for 3 hours.
- 1 recycled glass bottle would save enough energy to power a computer for 25 minutes.
- 1 recycled plastic bottle would save enough energy to power a 60-watt light bulb for 3 hours.
- 70% less energy is required to recycle paper compared with making it from raw materials.
Some Interesting Facts
- Up to 60% of the rubbish that ends up in the dustbin could be recycled.
- The unreleased energy contained in the average dustbin each year could power a television for 5,000 hours.
- The largest lake in the Britain could be filled with rubbish from the UK in 8 months.
- On average, 16% of the money you spend on a product pays for the packaging, which ultimately ends up as rubbish.
- As much as 50% of waste in the average dustbin could be composted.
- Up to 80% of a vehicle can be recycled.
- 9 out of 10 people would recycle more if it were made easier.
- 24 million tonnes of aluminium is produced annually, 51,000 tonnes of which ends up as packaging in the UK.
- If all cans in the UK were recycled, we would need 14 million fewer dustbins.
- £36,000,000 worth of aluminium is thrown away each year.
- Aluminium cans can be recycled and ready to use in just 6 weeks.
- Each UK family uses an average of 500 glass bottles and jars annually.
- The largest glass furnace produces over 1 million glass bottles and jars per day.
- Glass is 100% recyclable and can be used again and again.
- Glass that is thrown away and ends up in landfills will never decompose.
- Recycled paper produces 73% less air pollution than if it was made from raw materials.
- 12.5 million tonnes of paper and cardboard are used annually in the UK.
- The average person in the UK gets through 38kg of newspapers per year.
- It takes 24 trees to make 1 ton of newspaper.
- 275,000 tonnes of plastic are used each year in the UK, that’s about 15 million bottles per day.
- Most families throw away about 40kg of plastic per year, which could otherwise be recycled.
- The use of plastic in Western Europe is growing about 4% each year.
- Plastic can take up to 500 years to decompose.
On advise regarding how to recycle, where to recycle and what to recycle, sometimes it is best to consult someone just so that you comply with the law. After all, you don’t want to be caught out and fined for recycling cardboard where you should recycle glass.
At Go Green, we offer solutions for a variety of Environmental issues. Please click on the following link to contact us.
Posted in glasgow recycling, recycling | 
Tags: glasgow recycling, Recycling, recycling glasgow, recycling scotland, recycling uk, scotland recycling, uk recycling | 
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How to Achieve a High Breeam Rating
DREAM A LITTLE BREEAM
Building methods can result in high energy usage, large quantities of waste, poor occupancy comfort and low user satisfaction. However, Breeam building assessments can address the environmental impact of these issues and provide a range of benefits to all involved with buildings. Breeam – the Building Research Establishment’s environmental assessment method – is the world’s most widely used means of reviewing and improving the environmental performance of office buildings. It is increasingly required by regulatory and government organisations, including English Partnerships and the Office of Governmental Commerce (OGC).
Breeam buildings bring an improved internal environment, increased productivity, staff retention and attraction, increased profitability for business, reduced utility bills and improved corporate image. Such desirable buildings also give a high rate of return and a low void rate.
With heightened awareness of green issues in today’s marketplace, this rating will soon become the norm for all commercial and domestic buildings. Assessments can be carried out on both new and existing office buildings, whether empty or occupied. Within Breeam there are four ratings: ‘pass’, ‘good’, ‘very good’, and ‘excellent’.
1. The Guidelines
The assessment process isn’t just about the building. It covers a range of elements that encompass the office environment. It looks at how energy efficient a business is, what impact an office has on the health and wellbeing of its people, water, material and waste. It even looks at management policies to see how environmentally sound they are.
2. Where to Start
You can get a rating without a complete redesign and refurbishment, but it is best to build your design around the Breeam guidelines when you plan a refurbishment or fit out. This is more cost effective – especially when long-term energy savings are factored in. At the concept design stage (or as early as possible) an assessor should be involved to ensure the performance of the building is maximised for least capital cost. An assessor will also be able to help you understand what needs to be implemented into your design to achieve a rating.
3. The Main Criteria
Good building management is crucial to the building’s performance as it has an impact throughout the building’s life. Breeam looks at how the building is managed, so it is important to ensure someone is responsible for maintaining optimum performance. The award credits where the environment is designed to maximise occupant control; for example in heating, lighting, air quality and noise.
The CO2 emitted from the operation of buildings in the UK accounts for more than 50 per cent of the total UK CO2 emissions. Breeam looks at how companies can reduce CO2 emissions from building operations and looks at aspects such as low energy lights, metering, ‘A’-rated white goods and energy management. Businesses can also minimise CO2 emissions from transport to and from a building – by looking at the location of the development, parking and cyclist facilities and access to public transport and local amenities. Breeam credits are also awarded when companies introduce measures such as low-flush toilets, water metering, leak-detection systems and use of water butts. In addition, it rewards the use of materials with a low embodied energy, such responsibly resourced materials and the use of recycled materials.
4. Assessment
The assessments are carried out by BRE’s licensed assessor network. This can be at the design stage for new build or refurbishment projects, post-construction or an assessment for existing buildings can be carried out while they are operational. Credits are awarded in each area according to performance. A set of environmental weightings enables the credits to be added together to produce a single overall score. As a guide, the rating bands are; a score of 70 for ‘excellent’, 55 for ‘very good’, 40 for ‘good’ and 25 for ‘pass’. But each element of the assessment must also be backed up with physical evidence. This may be in the form of a letter from a contractor, a train timetable, or specific information about a material from suppliers. This can often be the most difficult and lengthy part of the process.
5. Costs
It’s not that just the initial financial cost, there is a time cost involved too. To achieve a successful Breeam rating, the client must be aware that they need to be fully committed to achieving Breeam by attributing time and effort to locating the required information and evidence. In essence, the more input given by the client leads to a more effective result. However, a sustainable office interior uses less energy – so you could save at least 25 per cent on your energy bills, year after year.
The Main Factors for a High Rating
The extent to which these factors are considered as part of the building’s design has an impact on the eventual Breeam rating:
good building management
how the building contributes to the health and well-being of staff
a reduction in CO2 emissions from building operations and transport to and from a building
location and access for staff
water use and efficiency
use of responsibly resourced materials, those with a low embodied energy and recycled materials
best use of the building’s location and footprint
minimising pollution
This article first appeared in FM World, 2 June 2006
Everyone Should Be Egnaged in Emissions Management
Commerce and industry of all shapes and sizes, from a multinational corporation down to a regional or local enterprise, must fully embrace the concept of emissions management as it pertains to not only their internal operating procedures, but their existence within a chain of activities and processes necessary for them to function in the first place. Fully efficient emissions management requires captains of industry and CEOs to oversee a policy that strikes at the very heart of the company’s existence.
People are now becoming very much aware of climate change as its adverse effects are already felt everywhere. Not too long ago, politicians and scientists were still doubting the adverse impact of harmful greenhouse gas emissions, endlessly debating on whether or not global warming was really an issue to seriously consider. A lot has happened in a relatively short space of time and governments have reversed a decline in the support of the concept into a proactive and dramatic race to save the environment.
Smart executives realize the potential. Failure to act or to be seen to act in an aggressive manner will likely attract significant governmental attention in the future. Regulate yourself or be regulated. Companies that take a stance to recognize that the problem pervades every element of their organization will help to pioneer the way forward.
To begin with, a company needs to ‘clean its own yard’ and revise business processes and practices according to assumptions. At this stage, long-term goals are the objective including the use of cleaner energy and fuels and/or the generation of cleaner power. The most senior levels of the organization must be held responsible for the overall implementation of its long-term goals and transparency must be shown at all times and through all levels.
Fundamentally, for a company to survive in the future it must align its very reason for existence with its willingness and ability to undertake emissions management and to meet and exceed significant goals.
In terms of arresting climate change and attempting to reverse the damage that has being done since the dawn of the industrial age, every man, woman and child will have to play their parts. As such, within a commercial entity, senior emissions management executives are charged with the significant task of engaging all of those individuals who make a difference, all the way down to the employee at the foot of the payroll. A culture of conservation must be developed and participation mandatory, not voluntary. In conservation, we all make a difference.
Emissions management executives must also take a long, hard look at the organization’s supply chain. Any supplier that does not align its practices and production with your mission statement can be pressured by your company to do so. Like-minded organizations can also collaborate to achieve enhanced savings where otherwise they may not have.
In the name of addressing climate change there are new opportunities in the world of commerce and industry, where onetime rivals engage to share economies of scale, thereby cutting harmful emissions and going beyond the restrictions imposed by a traditional cloak of corporate secrecy.
Posted in Climate Change | Tags: Egnaged, Emissions, Enterprise, Everyone, Management, should | No Comments »